Snapshot

Following studies in Australia, Brett Dean travelled to Germany in 1985 and became a member of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra as viola player * In addition to orchestral career gave performances as soloist including numerous first performances * In 1988 began composing, initially as an arranger * Worked in improvisation for radio and film projects in Australia * Became established as a composer in his own right through worldwide performances of the ballet One of a Kind (Nederlands Dans Theater, choreographer Jiri Kylian) and by the clarinet concerto Ariel’s Music, which won an award from the UNESCO International Rostrum of Composers * Paintings from his partner Heather Betts have initiated numerous compositions * Since 2000 has lived in Australia as freelance composer * Leading interpreters of Dean’s music include Sir Simon Rattle, Markus Stenz, Simone Young, Frank Peter Zimmermann and Daniel Harding

Looking Ahead:new Hamlet opera (WP June 2017) to tour to various stages in the UK in autumn; 'Creative Chair" at the Tonhalle-Orchester in Zurich for the 2017/18 season, with many performances of his works; from summer 2017 also features composer-conductor-soloist at Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester in Berlin; commission by Berliner Philharmonic and Simon Rattle (WP June 2018)